Downers Grove Gingerbread Festival A Sweet Treat For All Ages

DOWNERS GROVE, IL — The sweet and spicy scents of icing and gingerbread will fill the air in downtown Downers Grove for the annual Gingerbread Festival on Thanksgiving weekend. The three-day event will take place Nov. 24 through 26 and is filled with holiday lights, complimentary carriage rides, visits with Santa, and, of course, plenty of gingerbread houses and creatures!

Gingerbread House Contest (Nov. 24-26)

One of the main events at the Gingerbread Festival is naturally the Gingerbread house contest. Dozens of delectable-looking, decorated gingerbread houses will be set up at businesses downtown. Local families and businesses have crafted their confectionery creations and are hoping to win your vote. The Gingerbread house contest runs Nov. 24-26. Residents can vote using a printout form or online at www.downtowndg.org.

Gingerbread Man Hunt (Nov. 24-Dec. 23)

Families can kick off the weekend by starting the hunt for the elusive gingerbread man. Throughout the holidays, he'll be hiding out in more than a dozen shops and restaurants throughout the village. When you spot the gingerbread man at a business, ask for a stamp and check the box on Gingerbread Man Hunt sheet. Once you've spied the gingerbread man at all 14 locations, take your completed list to Downers Grove Public Library by Dec. 23 for a free prize.

Holiday Window Contest (Nov. 24-26)

Businesses in downtown Downers Grove have put their energies into making sure their windows are filled with festive lights and decorations. Residents can vote for the best business holiday window in a number of categories, including best use of product, most traditional, and most original. To vote, print out and complete this form or vote on the village website.

Friday, Nov. 24: Story Time and Tree Lighting

3:30 p.m.

Get to Downers Grove Library early to snag a seat for children's story time. The whimsical storytelling event is geared toward children from preschool to second grade.

4:30 p.m.

Immediately after story time, kids can join in the procession to Main Street Station to watch the annual Downers Grove Tree Lighting Ceremony.

Saturday, Nov. 25: Carriage Rides and Visits With Santa Claus

Free Carriage Rides 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Take a complimentary horse-drawn carriage ride down Curtiss Street to get around downtown Downers Grove the old-fashioned way. The carriage rides will board at 1028 Curtiss.

Visits with Santa 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Kids can share their holiday wish lists with Santa inside his gingerbread house. The visits or free, but make sure to snap pics to capture the moment.

Sunday, Nov. 26: Breakfast and Visits With Santa

Breakfast With Santa

Make sure to make a reservation so your kids can enjoy breakfast with Santa. Old St. Nick will be dining with kids at Pinecone Cottage Tea House at 10:15 a.m. and at Emmett's Ale House at 11:30 a.m.

Free Carriage Rides 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Take a complimentary horse-drawn carriage ride down Curtiss Street to get around downtown Downers Grove the old-fashioned way. The carriage rides will board at 1028 Curtiss.

Visits with Santa 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Kids can share their holiday wish lists with Santa inside his gingerbread house. The visits or free, but make sure to snap pics to capture the moment.

>>Image via Pixabay